ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Aaron Sanchez resumed throwing Monday after a lengthy layoff and while there’s no timetable yet for his return to the Toronto Blue Jays, the young right-hander was pleased with his progress.
“Everything is so far, so good according to what we’ve had planned,” Sanchez said after joining his teammates at Tropicana Field following the morning session at the club’s complex in Dunedin, Fla. “Today was the first day I threw, made 25 throws at 60 feet pain-free. Moving forward, I don’t know what they have in store for me, but we’ll see where everything goes.”
Sanchez hasn’t pitched since June 5, when he threw into the ninth inning of a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros. He says he didn’t feel anything unusual in his lat during that outing, but in the days that followed the usual soreness he gets, especially under the right armpit, didn’t ebb.
After initial hopes he could recover quickly, throw a couple of side sessions and jump back into the rotation, the Blue Jays instead placed him on the disabled list two Sundays ago and he’ll need one if not two rehab starts at this point.
In the four starts leading up to the injury, he’d posted a 2.57 ERA over 28 innings.
“It sucks, but I’ve been there, I’ve done that, so it’s just a matter of getting back to it when I’m back,” Sanchez said of regaining his form. “I want to make sure I’m 100 percent because I’m not doing anybody any justice if I’m out there at 80 percent, myself or the team.
“My thing is to get healthy and get back and help these guys win some games.”
Sanchez’s spot in the rotation is open with Scott Copeland being optioned to triple-A Buffalo after lasting just 1.1 innings in Sunday’s loss to Baltimore.
The Blue Jays are likely to skip that spot in the rotation the next time through – something they can do with Thursday’s off-day – before needing someone for June 30. Sanchez won’t be ready for then.
“I don’t know what their plan is moving forward. That’s their job, they know what they’re doing, so whatever kind of plan I’m on, that’s what I’m going to stick to,” he said, adding later. “I’m not protecting it, but I’m not throwing it at 100 percent (right now), we’ve got to be smart here. It’s just getting out there, going through my arm motion, making sure there are no aches and pains through everything and hope you come out of there pain-free, which we did.”
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FIFTH STARTER: Aside from saying it won’t be Aaron Sanchez, the Blue Jays offered no hints on who they may turn to June 30 when they next need a fifth starter.
Intriguingly, Daniel Norris would be on six days rest that day, while fellow lefty Matt Boyd, who’s made two solid starts since his promotion to triple-A Buffalo, would be on turn. GM Alex Anthopoulos was in Syracuse to watch Boyd’s last start in person.
Of course given the long lead time, the Blue Jays have a chance to line up anyone they please at Buffalo.
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TRAVIS ON FRIDAY?: Devon Travis was expected to join the Blue Jays from a rehab assignment Monday but instead his return may be pushed back to Friday to get him more at-bats at triple-A Buffalo.
“He’s starting to swing it better,” said manager John Gibbons. “Early on, his timing was off and he wasn’t getting a lot of hits. His at-bats, it showed the rust. He’s starting to kick it in a little bit now so we’ll just go day by day with him. I’m guessing, maybe, at the end of the week after the off-day possibly. But if we need him sooner … he’s going the right way, but it took some at-bats.”
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GET SOME REST: Neither Josh Donaldson nor Russell Martin were in the starting lineup for the Blue Jays, while Jose Bautista was at DH on Monday in order to get some rest.
Donaldson had started all but one of the team’s first 71 games before the break.
“He’s beat up,” said John Gibbons. “His body, his legs, it started with his calf and things like that. He’s not going to let you in on that but that affects you. Catch his breath today and then he’ll come back strong tomorrow.”
Asked how he determines when to give one of his regulars a break, Gibbons said: “I just look at when they need it. Of course we’re playing a good team in our division, but you give him a breather today and it’s going to help in the next few weeks. Then of course we have one on Thursday. He’s been at it hard every day. Same thing with Bautista, he’s hotter than fire right now, so we’ll keep him in the lineup and let him DH. Things like that. With Russ, long day yesterday, hot day, travel day, you have to keep these guys fresh and I think it benefits you in the long run. If you wait until they’re banged up, then you’re in trouble.”
